CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 66.4% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.

CFDs vs Spread Betting

What's the difference between Spread Betting and CFDs trading accounts?Spread betting vs Contracts for Difference? Which one best suits depends on your personal circumstances.

Whilst Spread betting and Contracts for Difference share a number of common features, they have some key differences too.

If you are new to trading then the first thing you need to decide is what sort of account would suit you best. But even if you have traded before, it’s worth making sure that you’re using the right account by understanding the differences between them. At Spread Co we offer two main types: spread betting and CFD, or Contract for Differences. In many ways the two account types are similar. However, there are some fundamental differences between spread bet and CFD accounts which you should consider before deciding which one to choose. How you decide will depend on your answers to a couple of questions:

Does the difference matter on where I live?

Spread betting is only available in certain countries. It is most popular in the United Kingdom (UK) where it is tax free*. That’s not to say that other countries don’t allow spread betting, but the tax treatment varies, and it may not have the same tax advantages as it does in the UK. Under current legislation spread betting is exempt from both Stamp Duty1 and Capital Gains Tax 1(CGT).

CFD trading is more widely accepted worldwide, although there are some countries where it is not available to retail customers. As far as the UK is concerned, and under current legislation*, CFDs are free from Stamp Duty1 although trading profits are subject to CGT.

So, if you live outside the UK, it could be that you are ineligible for a spread betting account. In which case, it’s time to consider CFD trading. But if you reside in the UK, it may still be the case that CFD trading is a better option, depending on how active you are as a trader.

Capital Gains Tax1(CGT) offset

As we’ve seen, spread bets are completely tax free under current UK legislation. CFDs are also exempt from Stamp Duty1 which is payable by investors when they trade UK equities. However, CFDs aren’t exempt from Capital Gains Tax1 on profits. But the upside of being subject to CGT means that any trading losses can be offset against trading profits. This could be an important consideration for you, particularly if you are an active trader, or if you are looking to hedge a stock portfolio. If this is the case, and you regularly make profits over the threshold for capital gains, CFD trading could be a better choice than spread betting. If in doubt, it is important to get independent advice.

Spread betting is the most straightforward way to speculate on financial markets. A major reason for this is that you can choose the currency in which you spread bet. At Spread Co, our customers can choose to spread bet in sterling, euros or US dollars, so all profits and losses are realised in the currency of your choice. This is not the case with CFDs.

With CFDs profits and losses are made in a variety of different currencies, depending on which currency the underlying financial instrument is priced. For instance, in global markets gold, silver and most other commodities are priced in US dollars while the Japan225 future and the USDJPY currency cross are both priced in Japanese yen. So if trading CFDs on gold, your profits or losses are realised in US dollars. Likewise, profits and losses on the Japan225 future and USDJPY are realised in Japanese yen. Any realised profits or losses are then converted overnight to your preferred account currency of British pounds, US dollars or euros.

CFDs and spread bets allow you to speculate on price movements of financial instruments, whether up or down. You never own the underlying product and instead you trade on margin. That is, rather than paying the full value of the underlying contract, you put up a proportion of its value which gives you control over a larger amount of it. This is quite different from buying shares of a company through a broker. Example:

Let’s say that BP shares are trading at £5.52

If you bought 1,000 shares through your broker this would cost you £5,520 (excluding commissions and other charges)

Our margin requirement for major UK shares both spread bets and CFDs is 20%. Consequently, the equivalent £10 per penny spread bet or 10 CFD per penny trades both require an initial margin of £1,104 (5,520 x 20%)

As you can see, CFD trading and spread betting allow you to speculate on price movements on financial instruments by putting up a modest percentage of the overall underlying value as initial margin. It is important to understand the risks involved as you may lose more than your initial margin if prices move against you. This type of speculation is not suitable for everyone. Please seek independent advice if in any doubt about the suitability of these products.

Key differences

Spread Betting

CFDs

Tax on gains1

No Capital Gains Tax on any profits.

Capital Gains Tax liability on profits.

Offset losses*

You can’t offset any losses against gains made elsewhere.

Any losses can be offset against other gains for Capital Gains Tax.

1Tax treatment depends on your individual circumstances and tax laws can change or may differ in a jurisdiction other than the UK.

Platforms

Markets

Spread Co Limited is a limited liability company registered in England and Wales with its registered office at 22 Bruton Street, London W1J 6QE. Company No. 05614477. Spread Co Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Register No. 446677.

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